Expansion-joint cushion



W. R. LONSDALE.

EXPANSION JOINT CUSHION.

APPLICATION FILED June, 1913.

. 1,085,27 5. Pa ented Jan. 27, 19m

,lizueiz'f'm.

iVi'fizea-saf WILLIAM R. LONSDALE,

OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

EXPANSION-JOINT CUSHION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

Application filed January 18. 1913. Serial No. 742,789.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that 1, WILLIAM R. LONSDALE, l a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland. in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new I and useful Improvement in Expansion- Joint Cushions, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to an expansion; joint cushion and has for its object the provision of a previously formed or completed expansion joint cushion as an article of manufacture, which can be inserted in any structure or construction which requires an expansion joint, as the construction progresses and remains a permanent part thereof.

It is customary and, in fact, necessary to provide at intervals in various types of construction, such as pavements, walls, and the like formed from blocks, cement or concrete. expansion joints to allow for expansion and contraction of the structure due to temperature changes.

It is customary at the present time and in l fact it is practically the universalcustom to J form the expansion joints by placing at intervals in the construction, temporarv l wooden strips between the blocks or sections of the material of which the structure is formed, and later to remove the wooden strips and fill the spaces previously occupied by them with a melted bituminous substance such as bitumen which when har- 5 dened or cooled is semi-solid or suflicientl-y pliable or yieldable to contract and expand in accordance with the movements of the structure. This method has numerous disadvantages among which may be mentioned that it is somewhat diflicult to remove the strips, particularly between the blocks or sections of certain types of constructions; it is often the case that the edges of the blocks or sections are chipped in removing the strips; it is necessary to maintain at the site of the work or construction apparatus for heating, melting and pouring the bituminous substance which is to be used as the expansion joints. It has also been proposed to provide between the sections of a construction a metal trough-like container into which the melted bituminous substance can be poured. This method, however, has not proven to be very satisfactory, and is not used to any extent.

The device forming the subject matter of l my invention is, as previously stated, a complete expansion joint cushion which will be previously formed of the proper dimensions as to width and depth, and if desired, as to length, although the cushion may be made of any length and later cut into the shorter lengths which the construction may require. lVhen my previously formed expansion oint cushion is employed in a construction as the same progresses, there is efiected a considerable saving of time and labor over that which must be expended with the present methods, and in very many instances, a more satisfactory joint can be provided by placmg permanently in position a previously formed expansion joint cushion than is possible with the present method of placing in the construction the temporary filler and 1 spacer and then after the construction has progressed beyond the same, to substitute for that filler and spacer a permanent expansion joint.

I shall now describe my improved expansion joint cushion in the form best known to me, and the preferred manner of producing it, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein the single figure is a perspective view of a portion of the expansion joint cushion with parts broken for the sake of clearnem T e expansion joint cushion. when completed in the form best suited for use in pavements, is about an inch thick. about six inches wide, and as long as desired,usually 8 or 10 feet. The completed cushion consists of a body portion 1O made of suitable bituminous or equivalent material. such as asphaltum or pitch,having a thin outer shell or covering 10 made of fibrous, porous material, such as paper or cloth; and an embedded trough-shaped member 10 made of metal having many holes through it, such as wire mesh or expanded metaL-said metal member being disposed in substantial engagement with the thin outer shell or covering.

The preferred manner of producing the said cushion is as follows: The paper or cloth for the outer shell is bent into trough form and is placed in a mold of the desired shape and size so that the bottom and sides of said shell will engage with and be supported by the mold walls. Then the trough shaped metal member is put inside the paper -or cloth trough, so that by engaging the same it will hold it against the walls of the mold, particularly when the melted bitu minous material is poured in. While the paper or cloth cover and the metal member are in the mold, as stated, the melted bituminous material is poured into the paper or cloth trough and allowed to solidify. The material, of course, will pass through the interstices of the metal member so as to entirely embed the same.

The complete expansion joint cushion, re moved from the mold may be handled and transported conveniently. In cold weather when the bituminous niaterial becomes more or less brittle, the embedded metal member will add sufficient strength to the cushion to prevent any considerable breakage. In warm Weather when the bituminous material is soft and sticky, the outer covering or shell makes the handling of the cushion possible without getting bituminous material smeared upon the hands. The said expansion joint cushion may be laid in the pavement in any kind of weather. It does not perform the function for which it is provided except 1 in warm weather, because in cold weather 1 body of bituminous material having an adthere is no expansion of the pavement in which it is laid. When, however, the weather gets warm and the pavement does expand, the pressure applied to the included expansion joint cushion will be such as will i force the bituminous material through the thin porous shell or cover 10, so that it will become adherent to the adjacent pavement.

There will be no spaces left, either when the pavement is laid, or at any other time between the cushion and the pavement.

As stated in the introduction, this cushion is adapted for use in pavements or in any structure made of cement, concrete, or

blocks,where expansion joints are required;

It is made in long lengths and may be cut to any required length. When used in pavements, it is intended to be used as a complete substitute for the filled joints now common.

1. An expansion joint cushion for I71V0- ments and the like comprising a thin flat elongated body of bituminous material having an adhering thin porous covering of fibrous material and having an embedded trough-shaped foraminous metal member extending from one end to the other of said body.

2. An expansion joint cushion for pavements and the like comprising an elongated hering thin porous outer covering of fibrous material and having an embedded-troughshaped foraminous metal member in substantial contact with said outer covering.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence-of two witnesses.

WILLIAM R. LON SDALE. 

